Cornish chickens: breed profile

Every farmer engaged in the breeding of household chickens is concerned, to bear fruit. Among the most popular, you should select a breed Cornish. It has established itself as providing large enough amounts of meat. These hens came to us from the UK. Due to its high productivity, they have made a serious competition to other breeds.

How did this breed?

The Bird was bred in 1820. Initially, the purpose of the creation of the breed – fight. The Englishman William Gilbert was the cross between breeds of chickens to improve their fighting qualities. But the result was unsatisfactory. The bird had the shadow of that character which were supposed to be. The new breed was named Cornish hens, after the place of excretion – Cornwall.

First, these chickens are not enjoyed the confidence of the farmers. They considered them as too whimsical. But after the breeders did some work on their properties, the productivity of these chickens has reached a very high level. And then it began to breed them massively. Today Cornish hens are among the most productive birds carrying large numbers of eggs and plenty of meat.

While the breed is not recognized by the poultry Association of America in 1895, it was called Indian fighting. But since fighting qualities she was only in visual signs, in contrast to nature, as of meat, on the contrary, a lot of the chicken was renamed in honor of Cornwall. Then it was approved by the signs of the variety of birds a real quality standard.

Appearance

Cornish hens Body sufficiently strong and muscular. Chicken it looks easy, but in fact very heavy. This is due to its plumage that is dense and smoothly adheres to the body. The average weight of chickens – about 3.5 pounds. Cock reaches 5 pounds. Amazing quality chickens Cornish is the appearance. The fact that to distinguish them as belonging to different sexes is difficult.

Representatives of the breed have a fairly broad skull and a very powerful chest. The chicken neck is not very long and not too short. Tibia thick, are at a great distance from each other and have small size. Feet completely naked, without feathers. Skin happy with a solid yellow color. The crest on the head resembles a pod. The beak is very short with a yellow tinge. From fighting the last of the Cornish breed chickens, have inherited only the brow ridges, which are sufficiently strongly bent forward. The tail is hanging a little, but very small. The bird's body is small and streamlined shape.

The majority of chickens are breed Cornish white color. But there are options for breeding dark red and yellow colors of birds. The character of representatives of a quite calm, although in their genes fight flowing blood.

The Benefits and productivity of the breed

The Main benefit of this varieties of chickens – very rapid growth. It is a quality valued by farmers. Within only six weeks old, the hen can give up to 2kg of meat. If the birds continue to grow, then it grows fat only in fat. Really appreciate the farmers for large amounts of white meat diet Cornish hens. The characteristic appearance given above, says that the hen has a wide and developed chest. This is the quality that enables farmers to obtain a dietary product. The roosters of this breed are often used to obtain hybrids (chetyrehlistnyj).

It is Known that Cornish is an indispensable source of protein. The egg production of one individual in an average year is 140 eggs weighing up to 60 grams. Their color is light brown. The number of eggs that are fertilized, is not much different from incubation.

Disadvantages

Despite its high productivity, the hens of this breed have drawbacks:

• Low hatchability, so there may be problems with industrial breeding;
• Sexual maturity is reached at 6 months, which affects the possibilities of rapid breeding;
• The need for a careful balanced diet is important in order that the chickens have not grown fat, as the meat quality will suffer then;
• The characteristics of the physique, which is a breed of chicken Cornish (photo shows this quite well), is a small head and short neck - don't enable full birds peck parasites;
• If the chickens contained more than 5 months, the meat will become harsh and lose their unique flavor, by which this species differs from others.

Terms of contents

For breeding birds you need to knowcontent features that require white Cornish chickens, different colors, as well as representatives of other breeds. First of all pay attention to the fact that this bird can be reared in cages, and outdoor method. However, the cell significantly improves the hygiene, because of the lack of regular contact with the litter. In this case, the need for systematic cost of veterinary drugs is eliminated. Chickens will not suffer from Intrusive parasites.

Food

To Feed this breed - not costly, but it should be under special control, as mentioned above. Young individuals are unpretentious in food. An important factor is that chicken eating little and weight (muscle) gaining quickly. That is why the daily diet limit and add in most of the corn. To avoid problems with digestion, food chickens sometimes add a little regular sand. In addition, the bird needs to be easily digestible protein and vitamins.

Excellent broilers are chickens crossed the Corniche/plimutrok. The origin and the latest standards of the breed are described below.

Breed plimutrok

There was this kind of poultry in America. It was first presented in 1869. This event took place at the exhibition chickens in Worcester (Worcester), Massachusetts. It was bred by crossing of Cochin China, the Dominicans and the gate, fighting chickens, and any poultry with the striped coloration of the plumage. Eventually formed two types: exhibition and productive. Standards exterior was established by the American poultry Association in 1910.

Deviation from the norm is marriage. The main difference – is the color. The plumage should be striped across pen, alternating throughout the body, with the same width of the bands. A-line white and black with a touch of lilac. Plimutrok and Cornish chickens (photos of both breeds is presented in the article), which have their own individual characteristics. For plymouthrock prerequisite is the dark color of the tips of the feathers.

The cock the lumbar region and the neck has a narrower white and black stripes. So the picture seems lighter than the hens. Flight feathers of the cock are of a larger pattern. A chicken throughout the body lines the same width, it is markedly different from cock a more intense coloration with black bands. Head chicken small or medium in size.

The Crossing plimutrok + Cornish

The Breed of chickens that should start with the comb – plimutrok. Why him? Because it is characteristic of the breed. Comb it is low and has a distinct leaf shape with barbs, of which he has five. The beak of primetrica short, strong and yellow. Eyes brilliant, orange-red. Earlobes small and rich red – it is a prerequisite. The earrings are medium-sized and oval. The face of the chicken has a red hue and smooth in its structure.

On the qualities of the Cornish hens, the description of which was made above, and are perfect for mating with liatroim, too, with a broad chest, thickly covered with feathers. Good characteristics of both breeds was used to improve the quality of broiler meat.

However, the chicken broilers require a special approach to the content. They need a warm, well ventilated room with a mellow light regime and special boxes with heaters. But all the work pays off with a vengeance. Since 9 weeks, broiler can score the meat (their weight is 1.6-1.8 kg).

Features of primetrica

The Meat of this breed is tender, tasty and healthy. However, its yellow color deters gourmets who consider such meat is not a luxury.

Piatakov chest is a little elevated and protrudes forward. The wings of birds are medium sized and fit snugly to the body. The back is of medium length, broad, arranged horizontally, a little elevated towards the tail of the small size with a thick feather covering and a little laid back. Chickens have plaits of moderate length. They have a thick, as on wings, feathering on the thighs. Tarsus yellow, and claws pale yellow. There are plymouthrock white, black, yellow and Kuropatkino color.

If the hens of this breed periaswamy, dumping the crest, it is a marriage. Also atypical bird with a dark bill. Liatroim tend not to have white spines on the crest and lobes – the same marriage. All white feathers and a brownish tinge on the plumage of unacceptable standards. In no case should not be white color and the feathers on his feet.

The Advantages and disadvantages of primetrica

The chickens of this species are very docile and calm nature. They are not restless and do not feel much discomfort. Good body and average value of the wing do not give the bird high up. This is a big plus for farmers. They havethere's no need for a high fence. The bird is quickly maturing. To 6 months ready to slaughter. At the same age chickens capable of laying eggs. This species belongs to the egg-meat type. Among the shortcomings: poorly developed survival instinct.

Features the productivity of primetrica

1. Live weight:

• Chicken & ndash; of 2.7– 3.5 kg;
• The cock – 4–5 kilograms.

2. Egg production is up to 190 eggs a year.

3. Mass of eggs (medium) – 60 grams.

4. The egg has a cream color.

5. The preservation of the breed – 96%.

Chickens breed plimutrok – one of the most profitable options for farmers.

Other derivative breeds

There are still a miniature of bentamy – hens Cornish dwarf. They have excellent productive qualities, adaptability to the conditions and viability.

Chicken breed Cornish is still used for crossing with the Sussex, Dorking and other meat-egg types. Pure breed Cornish does not always work. The fact that heavy weight with short legs to hamper their natural reproduction.

Today are very popular broilers obtained from crosses of Cornish and primetrica, called broiler-6. In addition, with the help of the Cornish breed created by Neva-2 and Baltika-4 using also in great demand. Poultry, meat, broiler breeding plymuthica and Cornish has 20% more usable protein and 7% fat.

The white Broilers and Cornish – this is a different species that is sometimes confused for ignorance. They are excellent even on the ridges: peas and leaf. Broilers obtained by crossing. It chetyrehrjadnye a hybrid of the white Cornish and the white plymouthrock. If there is no parent flock, broiler, then use insemination by artificial means. Where contains the parent of the herd, artificial insemination is not used because it is expensive and hard physical labor.

In these broods the Chicks color fluff are white. In daily age do not distinguish by sex. However, domestic birds are Cornish, as mentioned above, not only white color but also black, yellow, brown and dokkamtai color, which is most common among the colors. In chicken breeds Cornish chickens, like other meat types, have problems with feathers. It's a bit long process. Therefore, the lack of desired body substances, they can even die from hypothermia.

Cornish Hatchability is about 70% of hatching eggs. Not all laid eggs, unfortunately, produce offspring. But it did not affect popularity of the breed among farmers. Thanks to other advantages, it remains in the ranking of the most popular types of poultry, of course, mostly for the meat.